Chain conveyer



` Sept. 6, 1938.

H. H.MoRGAN 2,129,380

CHAIN coNvEYER l Filed oct. 24, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 6, 1.938. H MORGAN 129,380

CHAIN CONVEYER Filed oct. 24, 1956 s shams-sheet 2 Sept 6, 1938. H. H. MORGAN- 2,129,380

CHAIN CONVEYER Filed 061;.` 24, 1936. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 j2me/Z257? Alma, I 424 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CHAIN ooNvEYERy 'Horace H. Morgan, Detroit, Mich., Vassignor to The Webster Mfg Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Ohio Application October 24, 1936, Serial No. 107,383

3 Claims.

The invention relates to endless chain-conveyers of that type in which the conveyer-chain comprises links connected by vertical pivots, intermediate members connected by horizontal pivots to permit the chain to traverse guide-rails for changes in horizontal and vertical directions and trolley-wheels for supporting the chain.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyer-chain, which comprises links connected by vertical pivots and intermediate members connected by horizontal pivots and trolley-wheels which are co-axial or concentric with the transverse pivots, so that the chain-pull on vertical cLuves or inclines will be through the center of the transverse pivots between the memberswhich are connected for relative vertical swinging movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyer of this type, in which the center of the transverse pivots are in the centerline of chain-pull and are coaxial with the trolley- Wheels, so that chain-pull on vertical curves or inclines will be directly through the center of the axles of the wheels and the axles will travel on the bisector of the angle of the chain portions in traversing vertical curves or inclines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyer of this type in which the direction of pull in the chain is directly through the center of the axles on the vertical curves and inclines and the load is suspende'd directly on the transverse joint.

Other objects of the invention will appear from vthe detail description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. i

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a conveyer system embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a plan of one end of the conveyers, parts of the supporting structure being omitted; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of Fig, 2; Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a perspective of one of the portions of the conveyer-chain which carries the trolley; Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section through the trolley; Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

rIhe invention is exemplified with a conveyerchain composed of links II, which are connected together by vertical pins I2 to permit the chain to travel around horizontal curves or inclines. Each of these links II comprises separate upper and lower members or bars I3, I4, which are serially and pivotally connected at their lapping ends by vertical pins I2. 'I'he links of alternating sections are disposed between the links of contiguous sections. Sleeves I2@L around pins I2, space apart the upper and lower members of the links. The vertical spaces between the members I3 and I4 receive the teeth of the sprocket-wheels around which the chain travels.

To adapt the conveyer to transverse vertical inclines or curves, the chain includes intermediate link-sections I5 in the desired manner. Each section I5 comprises a pair of members I5a and I5", the ends of which are pivotally connected by vertical pins I2 to the contiguous links II. Each pair of members 15a, I5b has intertting ears Iiic and I5d which are pivotally connected together for relative vertical pivotal movement by a transverse axle or shaft I6 which extends through said ears of the members. The axis of axle I6 is at the vertical center of the sections II of the chain so that the center line of pull of the chain will intersect the axis of said shaft. Preferably, the links I4, I5 are provided with bushings 36 to avoid wear on the links at the axles I6.

Each axle or shaft I6 is carried by a pair of trolley-wheels 20 which are adapted to travel on supporting rails. Each axle I6 is carried by antifriction bearing 2l in a pair of coaxial trolleywheels. As a result of pivotally connecting the chain-links for relative vertical pivotal movement by axles which are coaxial with the Wheels, such movement occurs at points which are coaxial with the trolley-wheels. As a result of pivotally connecting the members I5a, I5b for relative vertical movement by the axles located at the vertical center line of pull of the chain, the upper and lower links of the chain will be evenly stressed in the operation of the conveyer. Divided hangers I'I are pivotally suspended from the axles I6 between the trolley-wheels and the members I5b. These hangers constitute loadcarriers for the articles to be conveyed. As a result of suspending the hangers directly on the axles which are in the vertical center line of pull and coaxial with the trolley-wheels, the loads will be carried directly by the axles and trolley-wheels without imposing deflecting moments on the links. The bearings 2| are confined between shoulders 22 on the shaft I6 and nuts 23 secured on the outer ends of the shaft. The trolley-wheels are anged and are adapted to run on a pair of rails 24, 24a, which are stationary to supportthe trolley. These rails extend horizontally vertically according to the quirements of the conveyer system.

The rails 24 are xed to forked hangers 25 which are supported by an overhead frame 26 of any suitable construction and are extended horizontally and vertically with connecting curves or inclines according to the desired requirements of the system. The conveyer system comprises sprockets 28, 29, either or both of which can be driven to propel the conveyerchain and the load-carriers. These sprockets are located according to the requirements of the system, and are provided with teeth 31)l whichv are .adapted to pass between the upper and lower members of links II. Ihe'inner rails-24.a `for guiding the inner wheels 'of the trolleys, .when traversing the horizontal curves, are supported by brackets 32 which are carried by the vshafts 33 for the sprocket-wheels 28, 29. The spaces between teeth 30 are suiiicient to clear the trolleywheels, axles I6 and the hangers l1 while the latter are traveling around the sprocket-wheels.

Wherever it is required that the conveyer travel along vertical curves or inclines, inverted guide-rails 35 are suitably carried by the supporting frame to confine the trolley-Wheels 2U to the supporting rails 24.

When the chain is traveling horizontally the tension is the same in the top and bottom links because the load is suspended directly on the axles which constitute the transverse joint of the chain and are supported directly by the trolley-wheels and the line of chain-pull is coincident with the vertical center of the links of the chain. The hanger is free to swing vertically on the axles which are supported by trolley-wheels, so the loads will be carried without deflecting the links from their control course. When the conveyer traverses vertical inclines or curves, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the force of the chain-pull is applied directly through the center of the axles and at the bisector of the angle between the relatively vertically inclined portions of the chain and the loads are suspended from the axles, so that the pivotal point around which the hanger or load swings will not be applied to deflect the chain-sections out of their course.

This construction makes it possible to have any pitch of chain, spacing of transverse joints, size of links and pins, to suit the weight and size of load to be carried and the vertical and horizontal curves desired. The axles can be made of any desired diameter to reduce wear and thus avoid, to a great extent, the links getting out of pitch. This extends the life of the chain. The inside chain tracks on the horizontal curves may be supported from the sprocket shafts thereby maintaining their correct relative position to the sprockets at all times. On the horizontal runs of the conveyer the chain-pull is directly through the `center of the axle so that the tension in the top and bottom links of the chain will be equalized, and the load carriers are supported by the trolley-supported axles so that the loads will not be applied to deflect the links out of the direct line of pull.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. f

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an endless chain conveyer, the combination of a series of links, vertical pivots between said links to permit relative horizontal pivotal movement between them, pairs of intermediate link-sections, vertical pivots connecting the outer Vends of the link-sections to adjacent links, horizontal axles having their axes in the plane of the vertical center of the links, and extending through and pivotally connecting the inner ends of each pair of link-sections for relative vertical pivotal movement of the sections, trolley-wheels on, coaxial with, and for supporting the axles, and rails for supporting the wheels.

2. In an endless chain conveyer, the combination of a series of links, vertical pivots between said links to permit relative horizontal pivotal movement between them, pairs of intermediate link-sections, vertical pivots connecting the outer ends of thelink-sections to adjacent links, horizontal axles having their axes in the plane of the vertical ycenter of the links, and extending through and pivotally connecting the inner ends of each pair of link-sections for relative vertical pivotal movement of the sections, trolley-wheels on, coaxial with, and for supporting the axles, load-supporting hangers pivotally suspended on and to swing about the axes of the axles, and rails for supporting the wheels.

3. In an endless chain conveyer, the combination of a series of links, vertical pivots between said links to permit relative horizontal pivotal movement between them, each link comprising separate `upper and lower members spaced apart vertically, pairs of intermediate link-sections, vertical pivots connecting the outer ends of linksections to adjacent links, horizontal axles having theiraxes in the plane of the vertical center of the links and extending through and pivotally connecting the inner ends of each pair of linksections for relative vertical pivotal movement, trolley-wheels on, coaxial with, and for supporting the axles, both of the link-sections of each pair being free to swing vertically around the axle extending through them and the axis of the trolley-wheels on said axle, and rails for supporting the wheels.

HORACE H. MORGAN. 

